Leptis Magna

Leptis Magna, spread along the Mediterranean shore east of Tripoli, is one of the most magnificent Roman cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the grand birthplace of the emperor Septimius Severus, who lavished monumental splendour upon it. Remarkably preserved and long protected by sand, its ruins are breathtaking in scale: the towering Arch of Septimius Severus, the vast Severan Forum and basilica, colonnaded streets, a great theatre, markets, baths and a harbour, all in honey-coloured stone and marble. To walk among its arches and columns beside the sea is to experience the ambition of imperial Rome made astonishingly real, one of the finest classical sites on earth.

What you actually see

• The Arch of Septimius Severus - the towering ceremonial arch.
• The Severan Forum - the vast forum and basilica.
• The theatre - the great Roman theatre by the sea.
• The marble streets - the colonnaded avenues, markets and baths.

When to go

October to April, the cooler months, are far more comfortable than the hot summer for exploring the extensive open ruins beside the Mediterranean; the honey-coloured stone glows beautifully in the low light of morning and late afternoon. Winter days on this coast are mild and pleasant.

Honest expectations

Leptis Magna is a large, open coastal site with little shade, so exploring its streets and monuments takes time, water and sun protection. As the grandest and one of the best-preserved Roman cities on earth, a UNESCO World Heritage marvel of arches, forums and marble streets by the sea, though, Leptis Magna is an utterly extraordinary and rewarding site.

Nearby

The town of Al Khums and the coast east of Tripoli lie around the ruins.